BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan said on Monday he would not seek to become the next director-general of the World Trade Organization, having previously said he was looking into the possibility.
Hogan said in a statement that the EU’s trade agenda, including transatlantic tensions, the need to establish a level playing field with China and talks with Britain about future relations required the full involvement of the European Union and, in particular, the trade commissioner.
“Accordingly, I have decided that I will not be putting my name forward for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization,” he said.
Hogan said earlier this month that he was exploring the option of being a candidate for the post that will become vacant at the start of September because incumbent Roberto Azevedo is stepping down a year early.
(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Editing by Marine Strauss and Catherine Evans)
